P.3-M reward up for Pandi gunman’s arrest

The cash reward offered for the arrest of the lone gunman in the ambush of the former vice mayor of Pandi, Bulacan on Monday was raised to P300,000 as the town mayor called on the police to get the suspect alive.

Pandi Mayor Enrico Roque on Friday said that Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado also committed additional P200,000 cash reward in addition to the earlier P100,000 he offered for the arrest of the suspect.

Roque said the immediate arrest of the suspect, identified as Ariel Orolfo, will ensure justice for the family of former vice mayor Roberto “Ruben” Rivera and allay fears among the residents in their otherwise peaceful municipality.

Rivera, 62, was shot dead on board his Nissan pickup while on his way home from his farm in Barangay Bagbaguin at about 6:30 p.m. on April 11 along Barangay Manatal.

He served as vice mayor of Pandi in 1992 and was reelected in 1995. He did not return to politics after completing his term.

Investigation disclosed that Rivera was flagged down by the suspect who opened the front passenger door and then fired several shots, hitting him in the head and body.

Bulacan Philippine National Police (PNP) officer-in-charge, Senior Supt. Romeo Caramat said the victim’s family on Thursday filed a murder case before the Bulacan Provincial Prosecutors Office against Orolfo.

Police said Orolfo is a known gun-for-hire from Barangay Pinaod in San Ildefonso, Bulacan.

His identity was verified after a composite illustration of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG-Bulacan) matched with his profile picture with the PNP records.

Caramat said that the live ammunition that the suspect left in the crime scene was his distinct manner in every killing he does which helped the police to positively identify him.